What is the significance of Meyer Wolfsheims teeth cufflinks in “The Great Gatsby”?
The use of human teeth as cufflinks tends to emphasise the mixture of civilised sophistication (the cufflinks) and barbarism (teeth) that makes up the character of Wolfsheim. His name, Wolfsheim, suggests something primal. He is drawn in some ways as a stereotypical Jew of the period – undersized, flashy and involved in underhand dealings. This is not saying that Jews of the period were like that. Many writers drew them as that, though. There is other racism in the book, as there is a fear expressed of possible future black domination.
